Record-breaking singer-songwriter makes shock declaration at last gig of tour
(Image credit: Luigi Rizzo/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
There is no artist quote so synonymous with the loop pedal as Ed Sheeran, yet the much-lauded UK singer-songwriter has announced plans to abandon the setup he used to single-handedly perform his record-breaking tours.
Closing the final night of his 260-gig Divide tour at Ipswich’s Chantry Park, Sheeran told fans, “This might be the last loop pedal gig,” according to the BBC.
Guess you’ve got to try something new after charting up the most-attended and highest-grossing tour of all time - especially when you don’t have to share the profits with any other musicians.
It looks certain that the chart-topping 28-year-old will take a considerable break from music, telling the crowd, “See you in two years.”
Up until now, Sheeran has relied on a custom looper pedal dubbed Chewie 2, which was designed with his tech Trevor Dawkins, and boasts an internal Boss RC-20 Loop Station, as well as integration with looping plugin Mobius.
You can see it in action in a clip from the Today show below.
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WATCH: @edsheeran shows @savannahguthrie, @williegeist and @carsondaly how to use a loop pedal! #EdSheeranTODAY pic.twitter.com/KDkax9iYwmMarch 8, 2017
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.